Motion sensor character generation for mobile device

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable mobile communications devices and systems, and more particularly to a portable mobile communications device, system and method that can create and recognize characters based on the motion of the mobile device.

A number of mobile devices are equipped with motion sensing capabilities in the form of accelerometers and/or gyroscopes. Typical reasons for their inclusion include support for gaming applications, enhanced menu navigation/selection, or sports/fitness applications (e.g. pedometer), etc.. Another potential and novel use for an embedded motion sensor within a mobile device is to render motion tracked as a graphical image. The mobile device can be thought of as a writing instrument using the motion sensors to trace a character or image. However, one obstacle to overcome is the ability to determine intentional motion from unintentional motion.

What is needed is a means for rendering an image on the mobile device display based on tracking the intended motion of the mobile device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the invention there is disclosed is a mobile device for detecting, tracking, and translating motion into an image that can be rendered on a mobile device display. A motion sensor contained within the mobile device and coupled with a processor can detect and track motion in a two-dimensional plane. A motion selector button is disposed on the housing of the mobile device and coupled with the processor. The motion selector button actuates and de-actuates the motion sensor such that motion is only detected and motion data forwarded to the processor while the motion selector button is actuated. The mobile device further includes a display for rendering an image corresponding to the detected motion. The processor translates the captured motion data into a scaled two-dimensional image that is completely rendered on the mobile device display.

Images can also be applied to a character recognition process to aid in textual input for a variety of other applications. The mobile device further includes a stored set of reference characters and character recognition means executable by the processor for determining whether the scaled two-dimensional image substantially matches a character contained in the stored set of reference characters.

The images rendered on the mobile device display are two-dimensional. The processor determines the two-dimensional plane of motion tracked by the motion sensor to be parallel to the face of the mobile device. The processor continuously re-determines the two-dimensional plane of motion tracked by the motion sensor to adjust for unintended subtle changes in the orientation of the mobile device. Motion having a component in a third-dimension perpendicular to the plane parallel to the face of the mobile device is ignored when translating the captured motion data into a scaled two-dimensional image that is completely rendered on the mobile device display.

However, motion having a component in a third-dimension perpendicular to the plane parallel to the face of the mobile device can be representative of non-character input including a space, a carriage return, or an end of character delineation. Detected rapid changes in the orientation of the face of the mobile device caused by a sudden twisting motion can be used to manipulate the scaled two-dimensional image. A sudden twisting motion can manipulate the scaled two-dimensional image by changing the default width of a line stroke thereby making the image bolder.

The motion sensor can be an accelerometer or a gyroscopic device.

According to another embodiment of the invention there is disclosed is an accessory for a mobile device that can detect, track, and translate motion into an image that can be transmitted to and rendered on a mobile device display. A motion sensor contained within the accessory and coupled with a processor can detect and track motion in a two-dimensional plane. A motion selector button is disposed on the housing of the accessory and coupled with the processor. The motion selector button actuates and de-actuates the motion sensor such that motion is only detected and motion data forwarded to the processor while the motion selector button is actuated. The processor can translate the captured motion data into a scaled two-dimensional image that is transmitted to and rendered on a mobile device display.

Images can also be applied to a character recognition process to aid in textual input for a variety of other applications. The accessory can further include a stored set of reference characters and character recognition means executable by the processor for determining whether the scaled two-dimensional image substantially matches a character contained in the stored set of reference characters.

The processor determines the two-dimensional plane of motion tracked by the motion sensor to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the accessory. The processor continuously re-determines the two-dimensional plane of motion tracked by the motion sensor to adjust for unintended subtle changes in the orientation of the accessory. Motion having a component in a third-dimension along the longitudinal axis of the accessory is ignored when translating the captured motion data into a scaled two-dimensional image.

However, motion having a component along the longitudinal axis of the accessory can be representative of non-character input including a space, a carriage return, or an end of character delineation. Detected rapid changes in the orientation of the face of the mobile device caused by a sudden tilting motion can be used to manipulate the scaled two-dimensional image. A sudden tilting motion can manipulate the scaled two-dimensional image by changing the default width of a line stroke thereby making the image bolder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary portable mobile communications device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart describing the motion capture process for creating graphical images.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a flowchart further describing post capture processing pertaining to character recognition.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates an example that shows the mobile device being moved around to form an image in freestyle drawing mode.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates an example that shows the mobile device being moved around to form an image in character recognition mode.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary portable mobile communications device and companion accessory according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention coordinates motion sensors or motion sensing capabilities with a software application that manages the rendering of images on the mobile device display. The present invention further utilizes a motion selection button that can be easily toggled during operation. The motion selection button provides a mechanism that identifies intentional and unintentional motion. Only intentional motion is captured and rendered on the mobile device display. Unintentional motion is ignored. Motion is considered intentional so long as the user actuates the motion selector button.

The present invention can be broken down into two main components. The first component involves the capturing of motion using the motion sensors and the rendering of a graphic corresponding to the sensed motion on the mobile device display. The second component involves manipulating the captured and rendered graphic using a software application.

There are many potential uses for the captured graphic(s). For instance, the captured graphic(s) can be used as input into a messaging system such as short messaging service (SMS), multi-media messaging service (MMS), instant messaging (IM), or e-mail. Moreover, the captured graphic can be operated on by a character recognition program to convert the freestyle motion input into a recognized alpha-numeric character. Such a feature would allow for the composition of text messages simply by ‘writing’ them by hand and having the input converted to recognized characters. This would provide an alternative to text message composition using the mobile device keypad.

Other characters can be recognized as well. For instance, Chinese characters can be rendered even if the mobile device does not recognize Chinese characters. The software can also be coded to recognize subtle orientation changes like a twist to the left or the right as an indication to make the stroke bolder.

The following detailed description of embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention. Other embodiments having different structures and operations do not depart from the scope of the present invention.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile device <b>100</b> according to an embodiment of the present invention. The components illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> do not form a complete mobile device <b>100</b>. Rather, only those components applicable to the present invention are shown and described. Some of the components listed are re-used by other applications within the mobile device <b>100</b> or to perform additional functions.

The mobile device includes a processor <b>110</b> that is responsible for receiving and processing data pertaining to motion detection and a motion capture application <b>120</b>. Motion detection is achieved via an internal motion sensor <b>130</b> that is coupled with the processor <b>110</b>. The motion sensor can have multiple functions within the mobile device <b>100</b>. For purposes of the present invention, the motion sensor <b>130</b> can be toggled between an active and inactive state by the motion capture application <b>120</b>. The mechanism used to toggle the motion sensor between an active and an inactive state is a motion selector button <b>140</b> that is coupled with the processor <b>110</b> via the motion capture application <b>120</b>. The motion selector button <b>140</b> is actuated when the user physically presses and holds the motion selector button <b>140</b> down. This signals the motion capture application <b>120</b> to cause the processor to capture and process positional data as determined by the motion sensor <b>130</b>. The captured positional data can be tracked and plotted to form a two-dimensional graphical image. The two-dimensional graphical image can then be rendered on the display <b>150</b> of the mobile device <b>100</b>.

The motion capture application <b>130</b> can be operated in two basic modes. The first mode is a straight forward image capture mode in which the tracked motion is scaled and rendered on the mobile device display <b>150</b> exactly as it was captured. The rendered image can then be saved as a graphical file in any number of standard image file formats including, but not limited to, a jpeg file, a gif file, a bitmap file, etc. The scaling may be determined, for example, by determining the maximum deviation in the X and Y directions of the two-dimensional plane defined for a particular character and then normalizing the captured motion within the X by Y frame.

The second mode of operation adds a character recognition feature. If operated in this mode, the captured image is compared to a stored set of reference characters <b>160</b> in hopes of finding a match. If a match is found, the stored reference character is displayed on the mobile device rather than the captured image. This mode is especially useful when the user wants to draft a message. Once the motion capture character input is complete, the matching reference characters are used as input to a messaging application <b>170</b>. The set of reference characters can include, but is not limited to, the ASCII set of characters, Chinese characters, Japanese characters, Greek letters, other common symbols such as mathematical operators or parentheses, etc.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart describing the motion capture process for creating graphical images. The first step is to detect when the motion selector button has been actuated <b>205</b>. Once the motion selector button is actuated, the mobile device orients itself by determining a two dimensional coordinate system <b>210</b> that is, for example, parallel to the face of the mobile device. This orientation occurs somewhat continuously to adjust for subtle but unintentional changes in orientation caused by the user. For tracking and image creation purposes, only two-dimensional renderings are created. Actuation of the motion selector button indicates that motion of the mobile device is to be sensed and tracked until the motion selector button is released <b>215</b>. Alternatively, the motion selector button can be pressed once to indicate start tracking and again to indicate stop tracking. This alternative would not require the user to hold the motion selector button down while desired motion is tracked. Actuation of the motion selector button causes the motion capture application to execute in conjunction with the processor and the motion sensor(s).

The sensed, tracked, and captured motion is processed in the two-dimensional coordinate system previously determined to indicate the shape of the character input <b>220</b>. The two-dimensional coordinate system allows for an image rendition while ignoring perpendicular fluctuations in the tracked motion. For instance, the user may be tracing a character freestyle with the mobile device held in his hand. The user only intends a two dimensional-image parallel to the face of the mobile device but may inadvertently cause a change in the third (perpendicular) coordinate axis while tracing the intended character. The perpendicular component of the tracked motion is simply ignored when processing the input. The result is a rendition of the tracing on the mobile device display in the intended two-dimensional plane.

There are two general types of intended input. The first is freestyle drawing and the second is character generation. Thus, there is a step <b>225</b> to determine which type of input is currently desired by the user. If the user desires freestyle input then the traced image is captured in two-dimensions as previously described exactly how the user traced the image. The trace data is processed so as to scale the image to fit within the constraints of the mobile device display so that it can be rendered on the mobile device display in its entirety <b>230</b>. For instance, a user can use large broad gestures to create an image that would far exceed the size of the mobile device display. In such a case the tracked motion would be proportionally scaled down to a size that would fit within the mobile device display. Once sized for the mobile device display, the motion capture application can further process the captured image and/or provide it as input to an image enhancement application for further processing. Further processing can include, but is not limited to, changing line or stroke widths to be bolder or thinner, filling in enclosed areas created by the image with various colors or shadings, making the lines or strokes that define the image into various types of dashed or dotted lines, and allowing for text editing into the image to create a caption or the like. Once the image has been captured, and edited if desired, the mobile device can be instructed to save the image <b>235</b> in any number of standard or proprietary image formats. JPEG, GIF, TIF and Bitmap file formats are just a few of many file formats that can be used.

If the user has selected character recognition mode, then the motion capture application prepares the mobile device display for text or character entry mode <b>240</b>. Character recognition mode is intended to provide an alternative means of input for other mobile device text or messaging functions. Text and messaging functions include, but are not limited to, short messaging service (SMS), multi-media messaging service (MMS), instant messaging (IM), e-mail, data entry for contacts, data entry for mobile device profile settings, etc. Typically, the text and messaging utilize the keypad for data entry. The keypad can be difficult to maneuver due to its rather small size. Thus, an alternative mechanism for text or character entry may be desired.

In addition to previously described mechanisms for translating sensed and tracked motion into a rendered image, character recognition mode provides for additional enhancements. For instance motion in the direction perpendicular to the plane parallel to the face was previously ignored as unwanted. In character recognition mode, sudden not so subtle changes in this direction can be treated as intentional and assigned a specific meaning <b>245</b>. For instance, this motion can be interpreted as non-character input such as spaces, end of character delineation, or carriage returns. Another type of motion that can be sensed is an intentional twisting motion <b>250</b> that exceeds a pre-determined threshold. Similar to the perpendicular motion described above, an intentional twist left (or right) can be assigned a specific non-character input such as those above or can even be used to vary the line width (boldness) of the most recent stroke.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a flowchart further describing post capture processing pertaining to character recognition. Once a character has been motion sensed, tracked, and traced between actuations of the motion selector button, the character is compared against a stored set of reference characters <b>305</b>. Different types of reference characters have been previously described herein. If a satisfactory match is not found <b>310</b> then a “No Match” error (or the like) can be displayed <b>315</b>. The previous input can then be erased <b>320</b> and the motion capture application will await the next actuation of the motion selector button <b>325</b> so that a new character can be input.

Sometimes more than one satisfactory match can be found. Many letters and numbers resemble one another. For instance, the letter “l” and the number “1” can be mistaken for one another. So too can the number “0” and the letter “o”. In such cases, the character recognition processing can display a list of possible matching characters from the reference set <b>322</b> on the mobile device display. The user can then select <b>325</b> which one of the matching possibilities was intended. The mobile device will then display the selected matching character from the set of reference characters <b>330</b>.

If a match is found <b>310</b> then the mobile device will display the matching character from the set of reference characters <b>330</b>. Similarly if non-character input described above has been recognized it will be displayed by the mobile device or processed to affect the current display of the mobile device. Once the character is displayed or non-character input has been processed, the mobile device will shift to the next text (character) entry point <b>335</b>. The mobile device can prompt the user to determine if text or character entry is complete <b>340</b>. If more text or character entry is desired then the motion capture application will await the next actuation of the motion selector button <b>325</b> so that a new character can be input.

If text or character entry is complete then the mobile device can pass control over to an appropriate text or messaging application <b>345</b> that will use the motion sensed and recognized characters as input. The launched application can now operate on the data as per its own functions.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates an example that shows the mobile device being moved around to form an image in freestyle drawing mode. A mobile device <b>100</b> is shown having a motion selector button <b>110</b> disposed in the upper right portion of the mobile device <b>100</b>. The placement and location of the motion selector button <b>110</b> on the mobile device <b>100</b> is illustrative and is subject to design choice. On the left, the mobile device <b>100</b> is shown in various positions intended to illustrate the tracking of motion. Specifically, the tracked motion traces out the words “Hi John”. The right side of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a rendering <b>410</b> of the sensed and tracked motion after it has been scaled to fit the mobile device display <b>120</b>.

Scaling a free form image involves a two step process. First, the motion capture application needs to be informed of the intended start and stop points of the motion tracking input session. The motion capture application should also be aware of sub-sessions in which to start and stop motion tracking. One way to accomplish this is to use the motion selector button <b>110</b> differently for a whole input session and an input sub-session. For instance, double clicking the motion selector button <b>110</b> (as one would a computer mouse) can indicate the beginning of an input session. This informs the motion capture application to be ready for input. Actual free-form input can then be accepted between single clicks of the motion selector button <b>110</b> or during periods when the motion selector button <b>110</b> is held down. The user will double click the motion selector button <b>110</b> again to indicate that the entire session is complete.

Only after the entire session is complete will the motion capture application scale the captured motion of the sub-sessions. This is the second part of the process. Scaling can be accomplished by apportioning an equal amount of screen space for each sub-session. The user can also select whether the rendered image should be displayed in a portrait or landscape perspective. The user can further specify whether the sub-session input should be presented in a top to bottom format or a left to right format. In addition, the user can be given the ability to move each sub-session image rendering to another location within the display similar to re-arranging the pieces of a puzzle.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates an example that shows the mobile device being moved around to form an image in character recognition mode. On the left, the mobile device <b>100</b> is shown in various positions intended to illustrate the tracking of motion. Specifically, the tracked motion traces out the words “Hi John”. The right side of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates a rendering <b>510</b> of the sensed and tracked motion after it has been processed in character recognition mode. Each character has been recognized and input into a reserved grid space on the mobile device display <b>120</b>. Upon completion of text or character entry, the user can launch any one of a number of resident messaging or text applications that can use the recognized characters as input.

The motion capture application can also be implemented as a feature within the text or messaging applications. In this implementation, the user can first launch a text or messaging application and select “motion capture” as the mechanism of input.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary portable mobile communications device and companion elongated accessory according to an embodiment of the present invention. Up until now, the description has focused on having the motion sensor co-located within the mobile device <b>100</b>. Another alternative is to provide an accessory <b>620</b> to the mobile device <b>100</b> that contains the motion sensor <b>640</b>. The mobile device <b>100</b> and the motion sensor accessory <b>620</b> can be made communicable via a short range wireless RF link such as Bluetooth™. This embodiment is similar to the description and processing of described in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1-5</figref>. In this case, a Bluetooth™ module <b>610</b> is included within the mobile device <b>100</b>. A second Bluetooth™ module <b>630</b> is included within the motion sensor accessory <b>620</b> making the two devices communicable with one another when successfully paired. The motion sensor accessory <b>620</b> further includes a processor <b>650</b> coupled with the motion sensor <b>640</b> and the Bluetooth™ module <b>630</b>. A motion selector button <b>660</b> is also included.

The motion sensor accessory <b>620</b> will typically be elongated and can be shaped in the form of a pen. The motion selector button <b>660</b> can be placed anywhere on the housing of the motion sensor accessory <b>620</b>. For purposes of illustration, the motion selector button <b>660</b> is shown on the lower portion of the motion sensor accessory <b>620</b>. In this location it can be more easily and naturally actuated by the user. Once paired with the mobile device <b>100</b> and actuated, the motion sensor accessory <b>620</b> will operate as previously described with respect to collecting and forwarding data pertaining to two-dimensional tracked motion. This time the two-dimensional plane of interest will be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the motion sensor accessory <b>620</b>.

Collected data will be forwarded to the mobile device via the respective Bluetooth™ modules on a real-time basis. The motion sensor accessory <b>620</b> can also be set to a character recognition mode in which the motion sensor accessory <b>620</b> performs all of the processing necessary to match the input to a character in a set of stored characters. While not specifically illustrated, a database of reference characters can be included within the motion sensor accessory <b>620</b>. In this mode, the motion sensor accessory <b>620</b> will forward recognized characters to the mobile device <b>100</b> via the respective Bluetooth™ modules <b>610</b>, <b>630</b>. This input can be applied directly to a text or messaging application running on the mobile device <b>100</b>.

The accessory <b>620</b> to the mobile device <b>100</b> that contains the motion sensor <b>640</b> can also be implemented using a wired cable connection such as USB, RS232, or the like <b>670</b>. In this instance, the accessory <b>620</b> would contain the motion sensor <b>640</b> and all data it generates would be passed directly to the mobile device <b>100</b> directly for processing. The accessory <b>620</b> would not need to include a Bluetooth™ module since the data would be passed over the cable <b>670</b>.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the present invention may be embodied as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable storage medium having computer-usable program code embodied in the medium.

Any suitable computer readable medium may be utilized. The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a transmission media such as those supporting the Internet or an intranet, or a magnetic storage device. Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory. In the context of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the present invention may be written in an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of the present invention may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

The present invention is described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems which perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and that the invention has other applications in other environments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments described herein.